12 Sep 2023

North West District Council chairperson, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng has expressed concern about the high number of wildlife snaring incidents in the Mababe/Khwai area. 

Addressing a full council meeting on Monday, Mr Kelebetseng said Khwai was the most affected area with 17 snares removed during an exercise to remove snares in July. 

“Seven animals were found with wire snares during the operation and i strongly call upon members of the community to stop the practice as our district is regarded as a tourism destination and therefore such acts are tarnishing the tourism image,” he stressed. 

Mr Kelebetseng advised members of the public to refrain from the illegal killing of wildlife,indicating that tourists were not happy to see animals with snares as that was seen as cruelty to animals. 

He said snaring of animals could turn tourists off as they preferred to visit places where wild animals roamed freely. 

He also implored fellow councilors and village leadership to encourage residents to stop the cruel practice and to encourage them to conserve wildlife for future generations. 

He acknowledged that human-wildlife conflict continued to be a problem in the district revealing that in June, a lion killed a man at Thololamoro near Sehithwa village whilst an elephant killed another in Ditshiping who was herding cattle. 

In July, a two-year-old child was attacked and injured by a baboon at Mababe while in Makalamabedi a man was attacked and injured by a hippo. 

Mr Kelebetseng also pointed out that in August three incidents were registered, narrating that in one incident a man was killed by a lion while in Ditshiping an elephant injured a tourist and a lion injured an employee of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks who was tracking it after it injured a farmer. 

“This is worrisome and let us all advice our residents to avoid pursuing these dangerous animals after they kill their livestock but rather to report to wildlife offices well in time so that they can act accordingly as they are trained in wildlife behaviour,” he cautioned. 

On other issues, the house was informed that 39 stock theft cases were reported this quarter as compared to 43 in the previous quarter. 

Mr Kelebetseng revealed that most of the livestock stolen were consumed by locals. He said  cattle rustlers targeted astray and unbranded cattle. 

In an effort to addrress the problem, he said, farmers’ committees had been revived and farmers were advised through kgotla meetings and other fora to regularly visit their cattle posts and monitor their animals. 

Furthermore, he said, there had been an increase in the inspection of local butchers in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure compliance. 

With regard to water supply situation in the district, Mr Kelebetseng revealed that the water supply remained unstable due to supply deficit arising from limited water sources. 

The situation, he said, was compounded by the Borolong surface water treatment plant not being in use, adding that currently Water Utilities Corporation was implementing water supply demand management strategy in Maun by optimising on available sources, rationing and bowsing in water tanks located at hard hit areas. 

However, he revealed that the Borolong plant started operating on September 9 after encountering delays emanating from the physical parameter on the raw water especially colour issues. 

He said the corporation had also successfully equipped and connected four new boreholes at Shashe well fields with diesel-operated generators to augment water supply to Maun. 

“This will boost the community’s confidence and satisfaction since plans are underway to connect four boreholes by the end of September this year,” he added. Ends